Students of Grade 6 will sit the annual assessment, formerly known as common entrance exams, on July 7, 2020. The exams which are usually held in May was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Education strict protocols will be observed to cater to the students physical and mental health needs. Some of these protocols include:
1. No more than ten (10) students and two supervisors will be seated in a room at any given time. (Adjustments will be made based on the size of the rooms being used.)
2. Exams will be conducted on ONE day only, between the hours of 8:00am and 1:00pm
3. A modified structure of the exams which will consist of three (3) papers:
Language Arts
Mathematics
General paper (consisting of science and Social Science)
4. The administration of the examination will take place at each school to reduce the movement of students. Students will be given the opportunity to write the examination at schools within the communities where they reside irrespective of the school which they attend.
5. Temperature screening will occur at each school site the morning of July 7 before the exams.
6. Schools will arrange for students to come in to discuss their questions and concerns, practice filling in the forms with their candidate numbers and shading, and also to familiarize themselves with their seating arrangements.
7. School counsellors will provide support to students.
At a press briefing of the Ministry of Education held on June 10, Head of the Curriculum and Measurement Unit, Robert Guiste said, “Parents have until June 19, 2020, to inform the principal about that matter [which school their child will sit the exam at] so that we can make the necessary adjustments to facilitate the student. There will be no hugging, no touching of students.”
